Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;dlfsamp2&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘DLFSAMP2’, characterized by its upright plant habit; uniform growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; strong upright flowering stems; pompon-type inflorescences with bright yellow-colored ray florets; resistance to White Rust; and excellent postproduction longevity.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Chrysanthemum Plants

Inventor/Applicant: Arie Gerard Post

Filed: Oct. 17, 2020

Ser. No. 63/093,198

Inventor/Applicant hereby claims the benefit of this provisional U.S. Patent Application.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifohum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFSAMP2’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

A Colombian Plant Breeders' Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Dec. 30, 2020, application number A202740. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium, typically grown as a cut flower Chrysanthemum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘DLFSAMP2’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut flower Chrysanthemum plants with numerous attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination in February, 2015 of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number KR 2011.1108-13, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number KR 11567, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in January, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetative terminal cuttings since January, 2016 in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DLFSAMP2’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DLFSAMP2’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; uniform growth habit.     -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Strong upright flowering stems.     -   5. Pompon-type inflorescences with bright yellow-colored ray         florets.     -   6. Resistant to White Rust (Puccinia horiana).     -   7. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are bright yellow in color whereas ray florets of plants of the female parent selection are white in color. In addition, plants of the new Chrysanthemum have larger inflorescences than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are bright yellow in color whereas ray florets of plants of the male parent selection are yellow green to white in color.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can also be compared to plants of Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFONUT2’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of ‘DLFONUT2’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have denser inflorescences         with more ray florets than plants of ‘DLFONUT2’.     -   2. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are darker         yellow in color than ray florets of plants of ‘DLFONUT2’.     -   3. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are more         concave than ray florets of plants of ‘DLFONUT2’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph at the top of the sheet (FIG. 1) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘DLFSAMP2’ grown as a spray-type cut flower.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of upper (left) and lower (right) surfaces of typical inflorescences (top of figure) and typical leaves (bottom of figure) of ‘DLFSAMP2’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the autumn in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and light levels averaged 8 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem spray-type plants and were nine weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFSAMP2’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number KR             2011.1108-13, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number KR             11567, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 13 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 15 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically light brown in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous pompon-type cut flower             that is typically grown as a single stem spray-type; upright             plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 66.6             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence             plane.—About 68.5 cm.         -   Plant (spray) diameter.—About 22.7 cm.         -   Flowering stem length.—About 60.8 cm.         -   Flowering stem diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Flowering stem internode length.—About 2.7 cm.         -   Flowering stem strength.—Strong.         -   Flowering stem aspect.—Erect.         -   Flowering stem texture and luster.—Moderately to densely             pubescent; slightly glossy.         -   Flowering stem color, developing.—Close to between 143A and             144A.         -   Flowering stem color, developed.—Close to 146A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 12.3 cm. Width: About 9.4 cm. Shape, in overall             outline: Broadly ovate to broadly oblong. Apex: Abruptly             acute, minute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed,             coarsely crenate to dentate; sinuses convergent and medium             in depth. Texture and luster, upper surface: Densely             pubescent, not rugose; moderately velvety; slightly glossy.             Texture and luster, lower surface: Densely pubescent,             prominent venation; slightly velvety; matte. Venation             pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Color: Developing leaves,             upper surface: Close to between 137B and 143A. Developing             leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully developed             leaves, upper surface: Close to between NN137A and 139A;             venation, close to 147B. Fully developed leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 146D. Petioles:             Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm by 3.5 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color,             upper surface: Close to 146B; edges, close to NN137B. Color,             lower surface: Close to 146B; edges, close to 147B.             Stipules: Quantity, appearance and arrangement: Two leafy             stipules, opposite, at the petiole attachment to the stem.             Length: About 1.8 cm. Width: About 1.3 mm. Shape, in overall             outline: Roughly obovate to reniform with praemorse or             emarginate apices. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Texture and luster,             lower surface: Densely pubescent; matte. Color, upper             surface: Close to between NN137A and 139A. Color, lower             surface: Close to 147B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Pompon-type inflorescence form with             obovate-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets;             inflorescences borne perpendicular to peduncles and face             mostly upright; ray and disc florets develop acropetally on             a capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; typical of Chrysanthemums.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower             in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other             times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development             can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at             least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and             short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long             day/short night conditions after planting followed by             photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about             46 days later when grown as a spray-type.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity;             after a seven-day storage period, cut flowers will maintain             good color and substance for about two to three weeks in an             interior environment; inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Typically grown as a spray-type,             about 32 inflorescences develop per flowering stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter, grown as a spray-type: About             4.1 cm. Depth (height), grown as a spray-type: About 2.7 cm.             Disc diameter, grown as a spray-type: About 4 mm;             inconspicuous.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 3.5 mm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.             Shape: Spherical. Color: Close to 147D.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About             1.3 cm. Shape: Flattened globular. Texture and luster:             Distally, smooth and glabrous; proximally, moderately             pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Developing involucral             bracts, close to 137B and 138B to 138D; developing ray             florets, close to 1A and distally, close to N144C.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 190 arranged in             about seven whorls. Length: About 1.6 cm. Width: About 5 mm.             Shape: Obovate; strongly concave, slightly carinate. Apex:             Emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; not undulate.             Aspect: About 10° to 90° from vertical. Texture and luster,             upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; matte.             Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly velvety; slightly glossy. Color: When opening,             upper surface: Close to 6A. When opening, lower surface:             Close to 3A to 3B; distally, close to 150A to 150B. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 6A; venation, close to 6A;             color does not change with subsequent development. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 5B; venation, close to 5B;             color does not change with subsequent development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About ten at the             center of the receptacle. Length: About 6 mm. Diameter:             About 1 mm. Shape: Lower 85% fused into a tube; upper 15%             free. Apex: Acute. Margin, free-part: Entire. Texture and             luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color, when opening, inner surface: Apex: Close to N144C.             Mid-section and base: Close to 145D. Color, when opening,             outer surface: Apex: Close to N144A. Mid-section and base:             Close to 145D. Color, fully opened, inner and outer             surfaces: Apex: Close to 3A to 3B. Mid-section and base:             Close to 145D.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 26             arranged in about two whorls. Length: About 9 mm. Width:             About 3.5 mm. Shape: Ovate to narrowly ovate. Apex: Obtuse.             Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Moderately pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface:             Close to 137A; lateral margins, translucent and close to             157D and apical margins tinged with close to N199A. Color,             lower surface: Close to 137B; lateral margins, translucent             and close to 157D and apical margins tinged with close to             N199A.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 4 cm. Diameter,             terminal peduncle: About 2 mm. Length, third peduncle: About             6.4 cm. Diameter, third peduncle: About 2 mm. Strength:             Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Upright. Aspect, third             peduncle: About 50° from the flowering stem axis. Texture             and luster: Densely pubescent; moderately glossy. Color:             Close to 137B and 138A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity: About five per floret. Filament length:             About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to 150C. Anther size:             About 0.5 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther             color: Close to 14A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:             Close to 17A. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc             florets. Quantity: One per floret. Pistil length: About             6 mm. Style length: About 5 mm. Style color: Close to 145B.             Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft to             three-parted, decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 151D. Ovary             color: Close to 157A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have             not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have     been observed to be resistant to White Rust (Puccinia horiana     (strains PhNL1 and PhBE6)). To date, plants of the new Chrysanthemum     have not been observed to be resistant to pests and other pathogens     common to Chrysanthemum plants grown under commercial conditions. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to     35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFSAMP2’ as illustrated and described. 